Theodorakos isn’t seeking re-election for Albion mayor

Theodorakos

ALBION – The village will have a new mayor on April 1. Dean Theodorakos isn’t seeking re-election in March.

Theodorakos has served as mayor for about five years. He also served as a village trustee and a member of the Planning Board before he was mayor.

Theodorakos and his wife Dele both grew up in Albion. After moving to Rochester for most of their adult lives, they returned to their hometown about a decade ago and both became active in community affairs.

“I’ve enjoyed it and I feel like I made a positive difference,” Theodorakos

said following a Village Board meeting this evening.

Theodorakos continues to work full-time in Rochester as a senior accountant for Kodak. He said the demands of the job, plus a desire to spend more time with his grandchildren, prompted him to not run again for mayor.

“There’s a benefit to having some new players come in and stir things up,” he said.

Theodorakos said the village has been busy with several projects the past five years. It has upgraded its sewer plant, sanitary and storm sewers, and overhauled some roads, most notably at Meadowbrook Drive, McKinistry Street, East State Street and Crimson Drive.

The mayor drives around the village and sees a lot of recent investment, including in the downtown, and along routes 31 and 98. Some local merchants have invested in the village, and some national chains – Kentucky Fried Chicken, Advance Auto Parts and soon Dunkin’ Donuts – have picked Albion for businesses.

Theodorakos is pleased that the former Chase site will soon be the home to Claims Recovery Financial Services. That company started in Albion a decade ago with founder Jodi Gaines. It now has about 600 workers and projects to grow to 750.

“There’s investment being made in the community so people must like what they’re seeing,” Theodorakos said.

The mayor was a volunteer on the campaign to build a new public library in Albion. He sees the Hoag Library as a major asset for the community.

The village had been working on housing rehab projects in a partnership with PathStone. But some of the government funding has dried up. Theodorakos said he hopes the investments in infrastructure and a more vibrant local business scene can stir housing investments.

“Going forward the focus should be on housing,” he said.

Some of the properties in the village sit in foreclosure, and it’s difficult to determine an owner who will take responsibility for the sites, Theodorakos said.

There is the potential for a lot of turnover on the board. Fred Miller will vacate his position after Dec. 31 because he was elected to the Orleans County Legislature. Two of the four other trustee seats – Kevin Sheehan and Eileen Banker – are also up for election in March.

Theodorakos said the village should be in good hands with a new election because of a dedicated team of department heads.

The board and the department heads work together to craft a village budget that will be an immediate task for the new board. The current budget totals $6.3 million. The village has about 50 employees.